It may surprise you that DJ Tatiana, one of Denver’s most beloved dance music mavens, has a master’s degree in Business Administration. Or maybe you’d expect it; after all, she travels the world playing at festivals and dance clubs, and she has even imported some of the most exciting things she’s discovered abroad. Chief among them is Pornstar Second Fridays at Bar Standard, a monthly “gayzapalooza” with dancing, a guest DJ, stage shows and, yes, your favorite male porn stars.
Six months into the adventure, Tatiana is ready to branch out. She’s readying the female equivalent of Pornstar 2nd Friday called Femme Fatale, tentatively slated to launch in July.
We wanted to know more about the new endeavor and the old, and how a girl from Madrid, Spain, made her way to the Rocky Mountains.
How long have you been doing Pornstar Second Friday? How did you get the idea?
We’ve been doing it for six months. I am from Madrid, Spain, and I travel quite often. One day when I was in Spain for a gig we went out and I saw this huge line down the street to go into a club. We went inside to see what was going on – and it was a party called I Want to be a Porn Star. They would bring in a very big adult film industry actor at that moment, and they would have a dance party around it. I said “This is a great idea. I’m sure the boys in Denver would love this!”
When is the next Pornstar 2nd Friday?
It will be at Bar Standard on May 11. The theme is Fetish Party. Mr. Gay Leather Colorado is going to be there helping us with the show and this time we’re going to fly in three porn stars: DJ Tristan Jaxx, Cavin Knight and our first Hispanic porn star, Dominic Sole. We’re very excited about that.
Who attends the event?
I would say 90 percent are gay men, 21 plus, and the other 10 percent are supporters, people who want to party: Lesbians, straight people, just open-minded people.
How do you choose the porn stars? Is there a booking agency for them?
Actually, my brother and I do some research. My brother has been instrumental in this: He has been giving me some great names. And then we talk to the (actors) we work with and they help us get in touch with others.
Now you’re going to do a Femme Fatale version. What can we expect? How often?
It’s actually launching this summer. You can expect a fun party geared toward the ladies. Very erotic, lots of dancing, something different and exciting. I will be DJing plus there will be a guest DJ there as well. I’m going to fly in porn stars from girl-on-girl porn.
Will it be at Bar Standard?
We are still finalizing the venue. It won’t be second Fridays. It will be a totally different day.
I understand you’re also a party planner. What’s the secret to throwing a great dance party?
Thinking from the perspective of the customer. I ask ‘what is going to wow me as a consumer?’ and have that in mind. Keep it fresh with something new going on every hour or every half hour. Try to offer something people have not seen before. People nowadays really want to be surprised. A lot of people find something that works and they keep going without changing it, and sometimes that can be hurtful for customers who want to see something new and fresh. Every month we have a different theme and there are shows on the stage every hour.
How does one get from Madrid to Denver?
I actually was sent to a boarding school in Virginia when I was 15. After that I traveled to London, to Columbia – I went to different places and cities and ended up in Denver where I finished my bachelors (double major in International Business and Computer Arts). I went to Spain for my masters (Business Administration). And then I came back here because I love Denver.
Do you find the audiences different between Denver, New York and Europe?
Absolutely. There are a lot of differences, but at the same time there are similarities. Every single audience comes out to have a good time. They have paid their money at the door and they come out to have the best time possible, and that is what my job is at the end of the day. I have a captive audience. Of course, the differences depend on what music they have heard growing up and what’s popular at the moment. So I do my research in advance. If I’m going to go play New York or Miami or somewhere in Europe, I find out what’s going on for them (musically).
How has dance music changed in the 12 years you’ve been DJing?
It’s changed thematically, but more so with the Internet and people being able to share music: What is strong in London, what is strong in New York, what is going on in Tokyo. The Internet is fantastic; it has helped the music industry a lot, because now you can enjoy dub step and dub hop and every new rhythm. Now everybody knows the music, whereas before it would take months and years for (these new styles) to be known throughout the world.
Do you remember the first dance party you attended?
I was really young for that (around 14), too young to even be there. Being a Spaniard I have party in my blood. I really love going to parties and taking a look at what people like. Music has been running in my family since I can remember. (Her family owned Spanish restaurants and bars with live music). We always had music and parties since I was very little.
Did you always want to be a DJ?
When I first started in music I played guitar and was more of a singer and performer. When I first came to the United States I taught myself spinning. I couldn’t find many people who were used to Spanish music. So then I decided to get into the beat, and one day I was walking around a music store and I saw a beat box. I started when DJing was not a positive thing. I could express the music in a different way and I could make people dance.
You’re known for rocking the turntables. What’s on your iPod that we won’t hear in a club?
I like Andrea Bocelli. I like flamenco music. I like very diverse types of music.
